"The 33"-Road Bike RacingWe set this forum up for our members to discuss their experiences in either pro or amateur racing, whether they are the big races, or even the small backyard races. Don't forget to update all the members with your own race results.

Check with better bike shops in your area. They usually have contacts with local racers and teams. You are at a good age for starting to look into this, but be careful to pace yourself. Sometimes young people can overdo and burn themselves out. A good bike shop may be able to refer you to someone who can mentor you to help you develop a reasonable training program. In a place like Kansas City there must be many teams. You would probably do best to try to find a large racing oriented club that has a development program for younger racers.

There is a Kansas City Bicycle Club, http://www.kcbc.org, but I can't tell if they are a racing club. They do have a links page that lists some racing organizations in the state. You might visit some of the websites and email them for advice. Specifically ask if they have a young racer development program. Most clubs who do are LOOKING for young racers.http://www.kcbc.org/links/

Check around with your local bike shops. Not EVERY one has a team/club, but some do.
You can also do a Google for teams/clubs in your area. Find out when they have their group rides (usually Sunday morning and Tuesday nights). Ask if it's OK for you to ride along with them. Generally, if you show interest in joining, they'll be welcoming. Especially a 14-year-old.
If they're mean to you, let me know. I'll come to KC and bend their spokes.

By the way, in case you're wondering, the difference between a team and a club is pretty easily explained.
A team usually comes as an offshoot of a club. For example, a club may be made up of all kinds of riders (mtb, triathlon, road, track, etc.). The roadies in that club will get together and form their own team which they intend to stick together, race together, travel together, complain about stuff together, share their sponsorship, argue over whose turn it is to pay for gas, etc.
So, for example, you may have the Schwinn Cycling Team (10 members) that consists of members of the Wolverine Sports Club (300 members).

Another way for a team to form is to have a handful of riders conspire to start their own thing. Or, one person may initiate the idea by going out and finding sponsorship and then invite riders to join based on their ability.

So, as a 14-year-old who is just getting going, your best bet is to find a Club or find a bike shop that has a team.

Glad to hear of your interest in teams and racing. Without going into a lot of details that may or may not be relevant to you and the area where you live, I think the key is to go out and just begin racing. As you learn the necessary skills and demonstrate a commitment to the sport, opportunities to ride with teams will come.

My son (currently age 14) began racing when he was 12. The first year he raced "unattached" (i.e., as an independent). The second year he was invited to join a team sponsored by a local bike shop, and now he rides for a regional junior development team. This is a fairly typical path for those who demonstrate some talent for the sport.

So, get your USCF license if you haven't already ($30 for juniors--this demonstrates to others that you are serious) and do as many races as you can get to. At age 14 you will obviously be dependent on others for transportion to and from, so parental support is a real plus. Also, do as many fast club rides/practice races as you can. Hope this helps.

[QUOTE=EventServices] By the way, in case you're wondering, the difference between a team and a club is pretty easily explained.
A team usually comes as an offshoot of a club. For example, a club may be made up of all kinds of riders (mtb, triathlon, road, track, etc.). The roadies in that club will get together and form their own team which they intend to stick together, race together, travel together, complain about stuff together, share their sponsorship, argue over whose turn it is to pay for gas, etc.
So, for example, you may have the Schwinn Cycling Team (10 members) that consists of members of the Wolverine Sports Club (300 members) [QUOTE]

Yeah that's how I got onto my current team. I rode with the club all summer and the invited me to ride with the race team this year. It's a great way for them to get to know you and for you to get to know them, both very important.

Our club does not have a race team but the fast group rides like that many of the times. In So Cal we have lots of race teams that are independent of bike clubs. The internet is a wonderful thing when it comes to finding out information on teams like these.

here's the way ig got onto a team: i did as many local group rides as i could, and i got noticed sooner or later. you have the same advantage i do. . . you're young (i'm 17). A lot of recreational level teams that are sponsored by lbs's are intrested in getting juniors into the sport, so at your age, just try to meet a lot of people and make sure they know your ambitions and goals. Also, check at your lbs and ask about local rides and see if they have anyone they could introduce you to. good luck, send me a PM if you have any more Questions

If they're mean to you, let me know. I'll come to KC and bend their spokes..

You da man!

Seriously, congratulations about the new team! One of the things I enjoyed the most about racing as a teenager (heck, even about being a teenager) was the weekly training rides where we'd kick the stuffing out of each other! Obviously I wasn't too rebellious as a teenager, but perhaps that's a good thing. Don't worry about having the latest gear or the most expensive bike. Having a bike that is properly maintained and it fits you is the most important thing. Have fun, and good luck!